This week, Michigan approved one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country -- and House Republicans banned two female Democratic representatives from speaking on the House floor after they opposed the bill.

State Representatives Lisa Brown and Barb Byrum, both Democrats, were not officially told why the ban was put in place or how long it will be enforced, Brown said in a statement on Thursday.

"Both Representative Byrum and I were gaveled down without cause yesterday while voicing our opposition to the Republican's war on women here in Michigan," Brown said. "Regardless of their reasoning, this is a violation of my First Amendment rights and directly impedes my ability to serve the people who elected me into office."

The bill (HB5711), which passed 70 to 39 with one representative abstaining, would severely restrict women's access to non-abortion health care services by imposing difficult-to-meet regulations that could ultimately force most clinics in the state to close. Another bill, which would criminalize abortions performed after 20 weeks gestation for any reason, was tabled for now.

"I have not asked you to adopt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adopt yours?" Brown said. "And finally, Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no'."

"I was either banned for being Jewish and rightfully pointing out that House Bill 5711 was forcing contradictory religious beliefs upon me and any other religion," Brown said in a statement. "Or it is because I said the word 'vagina' which is an anatomically, medically correct term. If they are going to legislate my anatomy, I see no reason why I cannot mention it."

According to Ari Adler, a spokesman for the Republican majority, Republican Speaker Pro Tem John Walsh called Brown out of order, not for saying "vagina," but for saying "no means no," something which he says suggested that Brown was comparing the abortion legislation to rape.

"What she said was offensive," Republican representative Mike Callton told the Detroit News. "It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company."

"If I can't say the word vagina, why are we legislating vaginas?" Brown asked Thursday at a press conference. "What language should I use?"

Regardless of where you stand on the abortion debate, what does it mean when elected officials are prohibited from speaking while bills that affect them are being discussed?

"Land of the Free" - Unless the Republicans have their way, then it's "Land of the wealthy caucasian Christians"

Fuck off already, thundercunts.

You know, I'd like to think that I usually try to keep an open mind about things, even though I can be pretty damn biased. But in this case, I completely fucking agree with you.

I really hope Brown takes some legal action on this. And, personally, legislating what a woman can and cannot do with her own vagina when it affects no other person reminds me a little of rape, yes, Mr. Callton.

"Land of the Free" - Unless the Republicans have their way, then it's "Land of the wealthy caucasian Christians"

Fuck off already, thundercunts.

Except if the Democrats have their way, it's "Land of the idealistic teenagers and extremists." There is no real middleground between the two. Don't act like one side would make everything peaches and creams whereas the other wouldn't.

Except if the Democrats have their way, it's "Land of the idealistic teenagers and extremists." There is no real middleground between the two. Don't act like one side would make everything peaches and creams whereas the other wouldn't.

So, are you saying republicans can't be idealistic or extreme? Because things like this seem pretty extreme, if not idealistic.

Except if the Democrats have their way, it's "Land of the idealistic teenagers and extremists." There is no real middleground between the two. Don't act like one side would make everything peaches and creams whereas the other wouldn't.

Who says I am? Besides, I'd rather have that than the backwards morals and beliefs along with forcing "Christian" values onto non-Christians (Christian values = their own values, in this case) the Republicans are trying to implement.

Except if the Democrats have their way, it's "Land of the idealistic teenagers and extremists." There is no real middleground between the two. Don't act like one side would make everything peaches and creams whereas the other wouldn't.

uh what
I don't like the Democrats (mostly for the same reason I don't like Republicans) but I'm pretty sure the Libertarians have the market cornered on idealistic teens and extremists.

Edited:

When I think Democrat I think "status quo and corporate interests" which is annoying but I don't think extremism.

I'd estimate that out of idealistic teens, only 10% are Libertarians, while 90% are Democrats.

I was mostly talking about extremism because I don't know what the fuck an idealistic teen even means. All teens are idealistic, with their wacky and crazy ideas like typing into a phone instead of talking on it and listening to a malfunctioning macbook for music.

Except if the Democrats have their way, it's "Land of the idealistic teenagers and extremists." There is no real middleground between the two. Don't act like one side would make everything peaches and creams whereas the other wouldn't.

The democrats are super moderate, you are thinking of the peace and freedom party

Someone in a state government was kept from just speaking just once in the US.

Yep, America is definitely fucked beyond repair, time to move!

Edited:

If Abe lived today, he would have joined the Democratic Party.

It's funny how in his day the Republicans were the good guys (Wanting to end slavery and shit.) and Democrats were the bad guys (Wanted to keep slavery.) and somehow the Republicans decided to trade all their smart people for the democratic's idiot people.

The last half-decent republican president was probably Reagan. At least he actually got shit done. (Bringing down inflation, brought down unemployment rate, etc.)

Now it's just "who's the crazier republican!?", at least Newt wants to go into a space even for silly reasons.

I think this bill is more a cry of attention from Michigan. I live here and this state is boring as shit. We need a little controversy.

Wow I hate it when people like you think everyone's motivation is "to cause controversy" or "to make the other person angry" as if everybody is just a vengeful zombie with extremely simple thought processes.